At Boulder Opera, we are proud to announce that Jorge Salazar will be joining our team once again to conduct an ensemble orchestra in our production of Verdi’s Il Trovatore.
Boulder Opera Company welcomes Karl Buttermann as Count di Luna in the upcoming show Il Trovatore. We are excited to have his tremendous voice give life to Count di Luna throughout this dramatic opera.
Hailed for his “hints at thunderous lows” (Richmond Arts), baritone Karl Buttermann is quickly gaining traction to becoming a major talent in the opera world. He is excelling in the roles of Verdi, as well as dipping his feet in the deep-end of dramatic German repertoire. Most recently, Mr. Buttermann sang the role of King Melchior in Amahl and the Night Visitors with MIOpera in Bloomington-Normal, Illinois. In the fall, he portrayed Germont in a motion picture version of La Traviata, also with MIOpera. Germont, Marcello, Rigoletto, and Alidoro are some of Buttermann’s favorite past roles, and in 2019 he transitioned from a bass to a baritone.
Boulder Opera Company: What are you most looking forward to about Il Trovatore?
Karl Buttermann: I’m looking forward to singing the fantastic music in this piece, as well as participating in a high-energy, multi-faceted plot. Verdi’s driving orchestral genius combined with the dark undertones of the narrative make this opera a superb spectacle not to be missed!
BOC: Count di Luna is a major character in this production, what are you most looking forward to about your role? What was the most challenging aspect of learning this role?
KB: I am looking forward to having fun being the bad guy, even though he isn’t necessarily evil, as well as showing his tender side. I look forward to portraying a guy who becomes mentally and emotionally lost because of his love for one woman. The most challenging aspect of learning this role was training myself to not get too enveloped in the character’s emotions. It’s so easy to start pushing with the intensity of the drama!
BOC: Covid has really impacted the lives of everyone, especially performers. How have all of the changes impacted you?
KB: COVID has allowed me time to transition from a bass to a baritone. It also has granted me several “need to know” opportunities, those being essential Verdi baritone roles: The title role of Rigoletto, Germont from Traviata, and di Luna. I feel that these components are paramount for all the other Verdi baritone roles, since his career was epitomized and maximized on these “big three."
BOC: What’s coming up for you and your plans for the future?
KB: In the summer, I will return to Illinois for two more productions with MIOpera: Captain von Trapp in The Sound of Music and Escamillo in Carmen. Following those engagements, I will travel to Brattleboro, Vermont to sing the role of Donner in Das Rheingold with TUNDI Productions.
Grab your tickets for Il Trovatore, directed by Gene Roberts!
You do not want to miss this passionate and dramatic Opera!
At Boulder Opera, we are proud to announce that Michelle Diggs Thompson will be joining our team once again to sing Leonora in our production of Verdi’s Il Trovatore.
At Boulder Opera, we are excited to announce that Gene Roberts will be joining our team once again to direct our production of Verdi’s Il Trovatore. To celebrate this, we want to share more information about Roberts with you!
Learn more about Steven Aguiló-Arbues and why he is so excited to be a part of Boulder Opera’s production of The Child and the Spells, coming to the Dairy Arts Center this December!
Jenna Clark will be making her debut with Boulder Opera Company this December by performing The Child in The Child and The Spells (L’enfant et les sortilèges) at the Dairy Arts Center. Jenna is an energetic, dynamic, and talented singer who we are ecstatic to have joining our team for our Family Series production! You won’t want to miss this fun Opera that is perfect for kids (and the young at heart)!
An interview with the talented, imaginative, and energetic Dana Kinney who will be directing our production of The Child and The Spells, L'enfant et les sortilèges, for our Family Series Opera on December 17th, 18th, and 19th!
Marketing Manager, Lydia Arnhart, recently sat down with the talented and delightful Dianela Acosta to find out why she is so excited to be celebrating Boulder Opera Company’s 10th Anniversary Season, what’s coming up next, and where Dianela hopes to take Boulder Opera in another decade.
We had the chance to sit down with Boulder Opera Music Director, Steven Aguiló-Arbues, ahead of our upcoming production at The Spark, The Marriage of Figaro. From Steven’s robust background and his involvement in the community, to his dissection of our upcoming operas that he is conducting—please enjoy this special interview with the maestro.
In order to program a safe and meaningful 2021 limited-season, Boulder Opera has recently partnered with The Spark—a robust performance and educational space located in the heart of Boulder. We decided to interview none other than Dillon Kenyon, the Co-Founder and Executive Director of The Spark, to gain insight into what The Spark is all about, and how they have championed an out-of-the-box approach for safe live-performances in the Boulder community.
Michael Travis Risner has been directing shows with Boulder Opera since 2016. One of his big accomplishments was his bold directing of Don Giovanni at the Dairy arts Center, and most recently, he directed Gato con Botas/ Puss in Boots at Etown. We interviewed Michael to gain insight into his vision for our upcoming performances of La Nozze de Figaro at The Spark.
Soprano Phoenix Gayles is the mastermind behind the Boulder Opera singing Telegrams that were launched during the pandemic lockdown. Executive Director Dianela Acosta had a zoom interview with Phoenix to ask her about The Singing Telegrams…
We had the chance to ask a few questions (virtually!) to Boulder Opera Board Member, Olga Correll. Olga is excited to help Boulder Opera in reaching their artistic, educational and financial goals. Through her work with Boulder Opera, Olga hopes to not only instill her love of the arts in her four children, but also share with the greater Boulder community…
We had the chance to ask a few questions (virtually!) to Armando Contreras, the baritone singing Marcello in our upcoming production of La Bohème. Read through this fun Q&A below and get to know Armando and a little more about this timeless opera…
When the pandemic hit back in March 2020, we felt a duty to stay in operation to offer artistic programming alternatives to the community. As a result of these efforts, we were thankfully able to continue paying a few of our musicians and administrators. Since then, we have focused on providing free or low-cost online content to our patrons and supporters.
In these times of uncertainty, polarization, and fear, opera brings people together. Your support of Boulder Opera ensures that we continue bringing programs to the community and we can continue to engage our musicians and creatives…